Electric flash light



Nov. 17, 1931. K'UHN ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Filed March 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet NOV. 17, 1931. U 1,832,564

ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Filed March 31, 1928 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 George A 0/10;

Patented Nov. l7, i931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE KUHN, OF WASHINGTON, I DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO IKUHN-WHITE LABORATORIES, INC., 01 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Application filed March 31, 1928.

flashlight having a swivel-connected battery casing and lamp housing, so that the two parts may be brought into different angular relations with the result that the light beam may be directed at different angles to the axis of the battery casing. According to one of said forms, the casing and housing are cylindroidal sections with a circular joint at an angle of to the axis of the casing. According to the other form the casing is cylindrical, or substantially so, and merges at one end into a hemispherical enlargement. The lamp housing is a complemental hemisphere swiveled to the hemispherical enlargement, the dividing great circle between the two being disposed at a 45 angle to the axis of the casing. The great advantage of both forms lies in the fact that the edges of the two relatively rotatable elements will be in register in all angular positions of their axes, this being 'an inherent characteristic of the geometrical forms employed.

The present application .has particular reference to( the second form; mentioned above, and includes several modifications 3 thereof. The particularadvantage of this form is that the conventional cylindrical casing is employed, and by the word cylindrical'I 'mean not only a casing in the form of a true cylinder, but also in the form of any polyhedron whose sides increased to infinity will resolve into a cylinder. Similarly the spherical enlargement need not necessarily be truly spherical so long as the circularity of its divisional edges. is not im,

paired. Also in two of the modifications to be described hereinafter, a lamp housing cylindroidal in whole or in part is shown in combination with a cylindrical casing merging into a similar cylindroid. I

In the accompanying drawin s:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation o a flashlight having a cylindrical battery casing and a spherical head.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same flashlight with the battery casing and lamp lious-.

No. 237,265, a

' able electrlc battery.

nection.

Serial No. 266,364.

ing turned to bring their axes at right angles to each other.

Fig. 3 shows a portion of a spherical headed flashlight similar to that of Fig. 1, with the exception that the spherical segments instead of'being equal, are minor and major segments of a sphere, the minor segment being in connection with the flashlight casing.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the spherical head of Fig. 3, showing the con necting means between the segments and the manner of mounting the lam Fig. 5 shows in side elevation a flashlight having a head generally m'milar to that of Fig. 3, but modified so as to depart from true sphericity.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a cylindrical casing surmounted by a cylindroidal head.

F Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of 1g. a Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a cylindrical casing surmounted. by a cylindrical lamp housing, the casing and housing being sepe rated by a cylindroidal neck portion.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line- 99 of Fig. 8.

5 Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section of a head portion similar to that of Fig. 8 showing focusing means for the lamp.

Fig. 11 is a section similar to that of Fi 4 showing focusing means for thelan p, an

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the flashlight according to Fig. 11, partly broken away.

.Referring to-the drawings, and to Figs. 1 and 2 in particular, 10 indicates a cylindrical casing, which, at its upper end, is merged into'a substantially hemispherical enlargement 11, whose circular at an angle of 45 to the axis of the casing. The casing 10 is 'desi ed to, receive a suithe lamp housin con- 'sists of a substantially hemispherica por-' tion 12' similar to enlargement 11, and the circular edges of the two are in register and thus maintained by any suitable swivel con- Portion 12 is provided with an axially directed collar 13 at the extremity of of a threaded ring 14, and means are pros lie in a planevided for suitably mounting a lamp in the housing 12. In this specification, and in the claims annexed thereto, the axis of the lamp housing is considered to be the axis of sleeve 13, the sleeve being preferably cylindrical. In Fig. 1 the axes of the battery casing and lamp housing lie in a straight line so that an axial beam of light is projected. Upon turning the lamp housing relative to the battery casing, however, their axes will be caused to assume different angular relations, and consequently, the light beam will be projected at various angles to the axis of the casing. With the divisional plane between sections 11 and 12 at 45 to the axis of the casing the maximum swinging angle of the lamp housing will be 90 as shown in Fig. 2, and in this position, and all intermediate positions, the divisional edges of sections 11 and 12 will be constantly in register, since the divisional edges are circular.

According to Figure 3 the casing enlargement 15 an lamp housing 16 are spherical, but the divisional plane, while remaining at an angle of 45 to the axis of the casing 17, as in Figs. 1 and 2, forms circular meeting edges of less diameter than a great circle of the sphere. The major segment 16 may thus be provided with a light opening of greater diameter than the diameter of casing 17.

As shown in Fig. 4, the minor spherical segment 15 is provided with a cylindrical neck 18 which is in screw engagement with the end of casing 17. The circular edges are inwardly flanged as at 19, and within member 15 is disposed a circular dished disk 20 with its margins resting behind flanges 19. The circular edges of major segment 16 are inwardly flanged as at 21, and behind these take the margins of a circular disk 22 dished to nest in disk 21. Flanges 19 and 21 are provided with tongues 23 and 24, which engage in perforations in the respective disks to hold them against rotation relative to the flanges. Disks 20 and 22 are of insulating material, and are connected together by a rivet 25 of electrically conductive material. Contact member 26 lies along the lower portion of disk 20 and is adapted to contact with pole 27 of battery 28. Contact 29 lies along the upper surface of disk 22, and its end is adapted to engage the central conductor of a lamp 30. Lamp 30 is supported by a reflector 31 whose upper radially expanded margins are adapted to be seated on a crimped annular ledge 32 of segment 16. A lens 33 overlies the reflector margins and is retained in place by a screw ring 34. Any suitable switch may be used and a circuit will be completed through the lower battery pole, casing 17, segment 15, flange 19, flange 21, segment 16, reflector 31. the lamp shell, the central lamp contact, conductor 29, pin 25, conductor 26 to pole 27. Thus by olfsetting disks 20 and 22 a roomy compartment is provided for the lamp and reflector with out giving too great size to the spherical head. The structure described with reference to lamp housing 16 is equally applicable with reference to lamp housing 12 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The head shown in Fig. 5 consists of two essentially spherical portions 35 and 36, although these portions are mutilated to give substantially ogce profiles. These profiles merge into intermediate spherical portions, since otherwise the circularity of the divisional edges of portions 35 and 36 would be impaired.

According to Fig. (5 the cylindrical casing 37 is merged at its upper portion into an expanded cylinrh'oidal section 38 of such proportions that a plane passed through this cylindroidal section at an angle of 45 to the axis of casing 37 will cut a circle. In this instance the lamp housing 39 is a cylindroidal section similar to section 38. As here shown, the light opening of housing 39 is elliptical in shape, although, of course, the upper extremity of the housing could be merged again into a cylinder similar to cylinder 37.

According to Fig. 8 a cylindrical casing 40 is provided, this casing being reduced at two sides at its extremity to merge into a cylindroidal portion 41 having a major transverse axis equal to the diameter of casing 40. The lamp housing 42 has acylindrical upper portion preferably of the same diameter as casing 40 merging into a cylindroidal portion 43 similar to 41. The separating plane of the two cylindroidal portions is at an angle of 45 to the axis of casing 40 and the circular abutting edges of the two portions are swiveled together.

In Fig. 10 I have shown an enlarged vertical section of a head similar to that shown in Fig. 8. Here, however, means are provided for displacing a reflector relative to a lamp for changing the focus of the latter. It will be seen that reflector 44 is supported on the upper inturned margins of athreaded sleeve 45, which is threaded to the cylindrical portion 42 of the lamp housing so as to be screwed up and down thereon. The re flector 44 and the lens 44 are retained in position on sleeve 45 by means of a ring 46 threaded on the outside of the latter. The lamp 447 is supported in an electrically conductive partition 48, and has its central contactresting on a conductor 49, which is in connection with conductor 50 through swivel pin 51, which connects together the two insulating disks 52 and 53. A sufliciently large aperture is provided at the inner end of the reflector so that the base of the lamp may be passed freely therethrough, and accordingly by screwing sleeve 45 in one direction or the other relative to housing 42, the lamp may be appropriately focused.

iVhile the focusing structure described esaeea also to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5, it would necessitate the use of a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the light opening, thereby impairin somewhat the appearance of the whole. Kccording to the disclosure of Figs. 11 and 12, means are provided whereby instead of the reflectoriand lens being moved relative to the lamp, axially of the casing, the.

lamp itself is adapted to be displaced.

Referring to Fig. 11, it will be seen that the fundamental structure is the same as that described with reference to Fig. 4 and, consequently, the same numerals have been applied. According to this figure, however, the sleeve 54 which surrounds the light opening is not threaded, but is provided at a number of unequally spaced points, preferably three, with protuberances as at 5.5 and 56, Fig. 12. The reflector 57 is provided with a seat 58' for lens 59, and its upper end is provided with threads as at 60. Threads 61 of a ring 62 engage with threads 60 and the ring is provided with a flange 63, which engages the margins oi the lens to seat the latter. Ring 62 is formed so as to provide an annular internal groove 64, and at intervals'equal to the intervals of protuberances 55, 56, etc.,

groove 64 is provided with downward grooves as at 65. brought into register with the respective protuberances. the latter are enabled to enter groove 64 and upon turning the ring, it and sleeve 54 will be interlocked and will be released only when the protuberances and grooves 55 are again brought into their single position of register. Thus, ring 62 may be rotated relative to the lamp housing without disengagement therefrom and without displacement in an axial direction relative thereto. Secured to the free end of the contact- 29 by means of a rivet 66, is an insulating block 67 to the upper flanged edge of which, is secured the base of a lamp socket 68. lhe lamp socket is provided with an integral concentric threaded flange 69 of greater diameter than the lamp bulb 70. The flange 69 is engaged by the threaded neck 71 of reflector 57. Ciductor 29 is yieldable to permit axial displacement of the lamp socket relative to the reflector, but it is 'sufl'iciently rigid to prevent the rotation of socket 68. Consequently, upon'rotation of ring 62, the lamp will be moved in one direction or the other along the axial line of the reflector, and thus may be focused asdesired. The circuit to the shell of the lamp is completed through reflector 57 and flange 69 to the socket, while the circuit to the central lamp contact is completed through rivet 66.

From the above description it will be realized that I have provided a flashlight of great adaptability and at the same time of very pleasing appearance. For example, it will be seen that the contours of the swiveled When grooves 65 aresections merge directly into each other, and

that the lines of the tubular casing merge lnto the enlarged or restricted head sections as the case may be. It is to be understood,

however, that many modifications both in design and structure are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a flashlight, a substantially cylindrical casing element adapted to receive an electric battery, a housing-element at one end of-said casing element adapted to receive a lamp, said housing and casing elements having circular adjacent edges in parallel planes at an angle to the axis of said casing element, the contours of said elements being merged into said circular edges, a swivel connection between said elements, whereby upon rotation of one of said ele ments relative 'to the other their axes are caused to assume different angular relations to each other, said housing element having an axially directed light opening, and elec trical connections entirely within said eleinents, adapted to connect the terminals of tric battery. a housing element at one end L of said casing element adapted to receive a lamp, said housing and casing elements having circular adjacent edges in parallel planes at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of said casing element, the contours of said elements being merged into said circular edges. said edges having inwardly extending electrically conductive contacting flanges, means swivelly connecting said elements, wherebv upon relative rotation of said elements their axes are caused to assume difl'erent angular relations to. each other with said flanges always in mutual contact, said housing element having an axi allv directed light opening, and a lamp circuit including said flanges.

3. In a flashlight, a substantially cylindrical casing element adapted to receive an electric battery. a housing element at one end 0f said casing element adapted to receive a lamp, said housing and easing elements having circular adjacent edges in parallel rical continuations of each other when said elements are coaxiallv aligned, a swivel connection between said element-s wherebv upon rotation of one of said elements relat ve to the other their axes are caused to assume different angular relations to each other, said housing element having an axially directed light openingf and electrical connections ening.

7. In a flashlight, a substantially cylindri-.

tirely within said elements adapted to connect the terminals of a lamp in the one element with the poles of the battery in the other element.

4. In a flashlight, a substantially cylindrical casing element adapted to receive an electric battery a housing element at one end of said casing element adapted to receive a lamp, said housing .and casing elements having circular abutting edges in a plane at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of said casing element, the diameter of said circular edges being greater than that of said casing element, the contours of said elements being merged into said circular edges, a swivel connection between said elements. whereby upon rotation of one of said elements relative to the other their axes are caused to assume difl'erent angular relations to each other, said housing element having an axially directed light opening, and electrical connections entirely within said elements adapted to connect the terminals of a lamp in the one element with the poles of the battery in the other element.

5. In a flashlight, a substantially cylindrical casing adapted to receive an electric battery, an enlargement at one end of said casing, said enlargement being divided in a plane at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of said casing, the abutting divisional edges of said enlargement being circular, and a swivel connection between the portions of said enlargement, whereby upon relative rotation of said portions their axes are caused to assume different angular relations to each other, the end portion being adapted to receive a lamp and having an axially directed l ght opening.

6. In a flashlight, a substantially cylindrical casing adapted to receive an electric battery, a substantially spherical enlargement at one end of said casing, said enlargement being divided in a plane at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of said casin the abutting divisional edges of said en argement being circular, and a swivel connection between the portions of said enlargement, whereby upon relative rotation of said portions their axes are caused to assume different angular relations to each other, the

end portion being adapted to receive a lamp and having an axially directed light opencal casing adapted to receive an electric battery, a substantially spherical enlargement at one end of said casing, said enlargement being divided in a plane at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of said casing, the abutting divisional edges of said enlargement being circular, said edges having inwardly extending electrically conductive contactifig flanges. means swivelly connecting the portions of said enlargement whereby upon relaesasei ative rotation of said portions their axes are caused to assume different angular relations to each other with said flanges always in mutual contact, the end portion being adapted to receive a lamp and having an axial light opening, and a lamp circuit including said flanges.

8. In a flashlight, a substantially cylindrical casing adaptedto receive an electric battery, a substantially spherical enlargement at one end of said casing, said enlargement being divided in a plane at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of said casing, the abutting divisional edges of said enlargement being circular and smaller than a great circle of said enlargement, the minor segment of said enlargement being adjacent the casing, and a swivel connection between the two segments, whereby upon relative rotation of the two segments their axes are caused to assume different angular relations, the major segment being adapted to receive a lamp and having a circular axially directed light opening of greater diameter than the casing.

9. In a flashlight, a lamp supporting section having a circular light opening, a reflector rotatably supported in said opening, said reflector having a threaded neck portion, a lamp socket threaded in said neck portion, a lamp in said socket, the diameter of said neck portion being greater than that of the lamp bulb, and a conductor engaging said socket. said conductor restraining said socket against rotation but being yieldable to permit axial movement of the socket relative to the reflector, wherebv upon rotation of the latter the socket and lamp are displaced axially of the reflector.

10. In a flashlight, a housing, a reflector element and an element adapted to support a lamp in operative relation thereto in said housing, and means to rotate said reflector element relative to said support element to re atively displace said elements longitudinally of the housing, said means comprising a member rotatable in a constant plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

11. In a flashlight, a housing, a reflector element and an element adapted to support a lamp in operative relation thereto in said housing, and means to rotate said reflector element relative to said support element to relatively displace said elements longitudinally of the housing, said means comprising a member external of the housing rotatable in a constant plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

12. In a flashlight, a housing, a reflector element and an element adapted to support a lamp in operative relation thereto in said housing, and means to rotate said reflector element relative to said support element to relatively displace said elements longitudinally of the housing, said means comprising a circumferentialring external of the housing and rotatable in a constant plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

13. In a flashlight, a housing, a reflector element and an element adapted to support a lamp in operative relation thereto in said housing, means to rotate said reflector element relative to said support element to relativly displace said elements longitudinally of the housing, said means comprlsing a circumferential ring external of the housing and rotatablb in a constant plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and a lens supported in said ring.

14. A head for attachment to a tubular battery housing of a hand electric flashlight, said head comprising a plurality of hollow portions swiveled together, means for removably securing one of said portions to an and of said housing with the swivelling axis of said portions at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said housing, the other of said portions being adapted to support a lamp, a. transverse Wall of insulating material secured in each of said portions, a terminal q mounted on each of said walls, one of said terminals being adapted to contact with the central pole of a battery in said housing and the other of said terminals being adapted to contact with thelamp, and a conductive element connecting said terminals and disposed entirely within said portions.

my hand.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set GEORGE KUnN. 

